Mechanical toy



Jan. 9, F. J MAYER MECHANICAL TOY Filed July 26 1952 Patented Jan. 9,1934 UNITED STATES MECHANICAL Toy Frank J. 'Mayer, Pittsbu'rgh'la.

Application July 26,-

1932. Serial No. 624,731

1 Claim. (01. 272 31) My invention relates to a mechanical toy andimportant objects thereof are to provide a toy of the characterdescribed,'which is simple in its construction and arrangement, whichoperates with great activity and much movement affording amusement tochildren "in their play, which is durable, compact, positive in itsaction, attractive in appearance, and comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood thatthe latter is merely illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, andthat the actual needs of practice and manufacture may require certainmechanical variations from the embodiment shown. It is, therefore, notintended to limit the invention to the disclosure thereof hereinillustrated, but rather to define such limitations to the scope of theclaim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several viewsz- Figure 1 is a topplan view of a mechanical toy constructed in accordance with theinvention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the base and associated track member online 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the carriage embodied in thepresent invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 44, Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 denotes a base, preferablyconstructed from sheet metal and in the form of a cylindrical casinghaving a fiat top 2 and an outwardly extending bottom flange 3. It is,of course, obvious that, the contour of the base, may be widely variedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

An annular track 4 is permanently fixed, in any suitable manner, to theupper face of the base top 2 and extends along the peripheral edgemargin of the latter. The track 4 is preferably constructed from sheetmetal and formed to provide an undulating upper surface havingalternately disposed depressions 5 and elevations 6.

While the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed illustratesuniform and regularly arranged undulations of the track 4, it is evidentthat the undulations may vary in size, number, and in spaced relationwith respect to each other.

'jeots' above the latter.

erably in the form of a spring motor 8, as illus' trated, or any othersuitable power element operable for imparting rotation to the propellingshaft 7. The spring motor 8 is housed in the base 1 and secured againstthe underside of the top 2. The spring motor 8 includes a winding shaft9, which projects laterally through the side wall of the base 1 andcarries a winding key 10 on the outer free end thereof.

A spider 11 is fixed to the upper end of the propelling shaft 7 andincludes a plurality of regularly spaced radially extending arms 12.Each of the arms 12 is provided with a vertically extending slot 13,which is open at its outer end. The spider 11 is disposed horizontally,preferably extending on a plane approximately intermediate of theheights of the undulations of the track 4.

A connecting rod 14 is pivotally connected, as at 15, in the slot 13 ineach of the spider arms 12. The outer end of each of the connecting rods14 is, pivotally joined with a wheeled car or carriage 16, which ismounted and travels on the track 4. The outer end of each connecting rod14 extends transversely through the associated carriage 16 and throughthe side walls 1? and 18 of the latter. The outer side wall 17 isprovided with an aperture 19 and the inner side wall 18 with a verticaloblong slot 20 for the passage of the connecting rod 14. The outer endof each of the connecting rods 14 is formed with a head 21 and a collar22 is fixed thereon adjacent to the side wall 18 for maintaining thecarriage 16 in position at the outer end of the connecting rod 14.

During the operation of the device, the carriages 16 travel around onthe undulating track 4, and the provision of the oblong slot 20 in theinner side wall 18 of each carriage 16 permits the variable angulardisposition of the connecting rod 14, while the carriage travels alongthe depressions and elevations 5 and 6 of the track 4, without impartinga corresponding angular tilt to the carriage 16 on the track 4, wherebythe carriages 16 are squarely maintained on all points of the latter atall times.

A figure 23, representing a rider or passenger, is preferably positionedin each of the carriages 16. A bearing 24 is fixed to the lower end ofthe figure 23 and mounted between the side walls 17 and 18 of thecarriage 16 on the connecting rod 14. This connection provides a pivotalattachment for the figure 23 whereby the latter will shift rearwardlyand forwardly by gravity, against the respective ends of the carriage16, each time that the carriage travels up and down over an elevation 6of the track 4.

It will be noted that four depressions 5 and elevations 6 are providedin the track 4, and that the spider 11 has five arms 12 connecting witha corresponding number of carriages 16 by the connecting rods 14. Thisvariation in the number of carriages 16 with respect to the undulationsof the track 4 provides a continuous uniform speed of travel to thecarriages around the track 4 and entirely eliminates faltering andjerking motion by establishing a better compensating gravity movement ofthe carriages over the undulations of the track 4.

It is apparent that, instead of the carriages 16 and figures 23,representations of other forms of vehicles, animals or other objects maybe employed to meet any condition found in practice.

The base 1 and all associated parts thereof are preferably fancifullypainted or colored to provide an attractive structure particularlyattractive to children.

The present invention provides a most durable and attractive device ofits kind, which operates with a great amount of action affording greatamusement and entertainment to children in their play.

' wall of each of said carriages provided with an aperture, connectingrods having a pivotal connection with the outer ends of respectivespider arms, the outer end portions of said connecting rods extendingtransversely through respective carriages and projecting through saidslots and said apertures in the side walls of said carriages, meanscarried by said connecting rods for maintaining the carriages inposition at the outer 'ends of the connecting rods, a figurative membermounted in each of said carriages and provided with a bearing element atthe lower end thereof,

said bearing elements being disposed between the sidewalls of respectivecarriages and pivotally en-, gaged by the outer end portions of saidconnectingrods to allow the alternategravity movements of saidfigurative members against the end walls of said carriages during thetravel of the latter around on said undulating track. I

FRANK. J. MAYER.-

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